Sick sailor winched from ship to NSW shore

In a delicate rescue operation a sick sailor has been winched from the deck of a bulk carrier ship anchored off Newcastle after rough conditions prevented a helicopter from landing.

The Corona Brave's captain requested the 42-year-old man be taken to shore on Tuesday morning after he developed a kidney problem and needed a medical scan, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service' Glen Ramplin said.

Amid choppy waters and unable to land on the cargo ship's 230-metre deck, the helicopter winched a doctor and paramedic down to retrieve the patient using an air-rescue vest.

"Normally it's a not a worry (for helicopters) landing on them but because there's a bit of swell about today they chose to conduct a low winch off the vessel itself," he said.

The crewman has been taken to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.